Patriots Day is tied for first on my Favorite Day in Boston List… St. Paddy’s Day, 4th of July are tough to pass up (honorable mention to Opening Day at Fenway and the Santa Speedo Run). Who would have thought, right?? Patriots Day???

Last Patriots Day I somehow managed to guilt three of my friends into leaving my apartment at 4:45a to watch the Battle of Lexington and Concord reenactment on the Lexington Green… WHERE THE ACTUAL BATTLE TOOK PLACE!!!

They love me, I swear…

The Battle of Lexington and Concord was one of the first battles fought of the Revolutionary War and the Patriots were the guys that fought it. Who were the Patriots? Nobodys. Just a few rough and tough guys that believed in their cause, that believed in freedom, that did not back down and that stood their ground for something that was right.

Anyone that has sat with me at a sporting event has seen me get teary eyed when the National Anthem is sung (because it happens EVERY TIME), and anyone that has watched 4th of July fireworks with me has witnessed the same teary eyed Sarah… America, the freedoms we have, and the people that defend our freedoms get me emotional. Sue me.

The battle reenactment on Patriots Day was no exception. I got a liiiiiiiiiittle emotional and have been intending to write this post ever since.

I was standing at the edge of the Lexington Green at 5:00a waiting for the reenactment. I was trying to contain my excitement as I stood amidst the 200 year old houses surrounding the green that were there when the battle took place and it could just not be done.

AMERICA!!!

Silence came over the crowd as we heard the British Troops marching through Lexington. Men wearing scrappy colonial clothes started running out of houses armed with one shot rifles and stood in the middle of the green…. And we were standing right there watching! The British soldiers marched perfectly in sync to the drummer’s beat and approached the green in their perfectly matched, prestine uniforms. Our ‘troops’ gathered themselves together in the middle of the green, forming a single line the length of the green to express to the British soldiers that they were not welcome… this was going to be AMERICA.

As the British soldiers approached the scraggly Patriot soldiers some of the Patriots fled… after all, death was imminent. The British soldiers were now just a few yards away and the remaining men stood their ground, trembling in fear. Rather than shooting the ten or so Patriots blocking their path, the Bristh leader called his troops to stopped marching, stopping within five feet of the faces of the Patriots. The leader of the British troops yelled at the Patriots to move. The Patriots stood their ground.

The British soldier yelled two then three more times. More men fled from the danger of the line into the surrounding woods. No one knows who fired the first shot, but it appeared to come from one of the houses and thus the battle began, killing most of the Patriots. The British soldiers continued marching and would later make it to the North Bridge in Concord where “the shot heard ‘round the world” was fired.

There were so many thoughts going through my head at this reenactment that brought me to tears… as I saw the Patriots standing in the line, trembling as the uniformed British soldiers approached, I thought of my friends and [some former] loved ones that are currently serving our country. I thought of my father and grandfather who served as Marines. I prayed a prayer of gratitude for the people that have believed so much in freedom that they have fought to protect it. It led me to ask myself… what do I believe in so much that I would stand in the face of the enemy and be willing to sacrifice my life for?

As a Christian, the obvious answer should be Christ. Which led me to ask… am I really willing to sacrifice my life for Christ? Would I die, or even face danger for that matter, for the cause of Christ? Ok forget death and danger… would I even be willing to give up my earthly pleasures for the sake of Christ, because often times I don’t. Do I truly understand the statement I so frequently hear, “Christ died for me?” Wow. Christ died for me. These soldiers died for me. These soldiers died for the cause of freedom, so that we could speak and worship and play and educate and live in a world that is free. Christ is the true source of freedom and the true source of peace and He endured the wrath of God and died to give it to us. Saying ‘I was moved’ is quite the understatement… I was completely awestruck.

Yesterday I brought myself back to that moment when I was standing on the Lexington Green and I attempted to sort through my thoughts after the explosions. I could do nothing but sit at my desk with my head in my hands and cry. The Boston Marathon has, for the past four years, been my little glimpse of heaven (as I have so proudly expressed) and was shattered by Evil. By hatred. By selfishness. I was brutally reminded that we live in the world and that Satan’s presence exists. I had to stomach people around me saying things like “the media is making a bigger deal of this than it really is… just two people died.” Just. I’m beginning to hate that word. Say that to the mother of the eight year old boy. Say that to his second grade classmates and explain to them why there is an empty desk in their classroom. Say that to the families impacted by the shooting in Newtown, Connecticut… after all, it was “just” one classroom. Ugh. I wanted to vomit.

To the people in my favorite city and the place my heart calls home – I love you and pray blessings and peace in this time of sorrow. Let us be reminded of the love that has been shown to us by our Creator and let us spread His love to the people of this world.

I don’t know if you’ve noticed this about my blog, but my posts are generally one-off goofy Sarah stories rather than a detailed diary of my day-to-day life… this is for two reasons: 1. I like to keep my personal life well… personal. 2. I don’t want to turn in to one of those bloggers that details what I had for breakfast because let’s be real… you don’t need to know that I eat cold Dominos pizza for breakfast at least once a week. What? You’re not supposed to do that after college?

That said, the month of April 2012 (hereon referred to as ‘The Month That Was’) has been incredible and I woud like to detail it for you… consider this me getting personal. I promise I won’t do this often.

I spent a weekend in Shirley, MA with UltiMegan. Got the tour of Circle B Barns. Rode Horses. Drove a semi truck. Went jeeping. Shot guns. Hung out with Megan’s awesome family. Had a bonfire. Flagged down a train to pick me up and take me back to Boston. I love Shirley, MA.

Had an excellent brunch on Easter Sunday hosted by the one and only Paul-Mark-Tim trio. Great food and even better company (if that’s possible with how incredible that ham was!!! And the homemade mac and cheese. MMMMMM. still thinking about it)

I received an email telling me I got Opening Day tickets to Fenwayfor the 100th anniversay!!!!!!! I hope this isn’t sacriligeous, but I prayed for tickets and the Lord heard my prayer. I’m not joking – how else do I explain tickets?! It was SO MUCH FUN!!!!

I saw this photo while reading the news on my morning commute. It made me laugh. Aloud.

Went to a play at the Middle East – I didn’t know they had plays there! It was a ton of fun.

Was introduced to Caine’s Arcade – if this doesn’t touch your heart… it’s likely you don’t have one. http://vimeo.com/40000072

Window washing day at the office!!! I wrote my favorite washers a note that said “Looking good guys – thanks for cleaning our windows!!” They didn’t see it.. instead, they just stared at me wondering why I was taking their picture (for the 329403242nd time in the past two years…) but seriously. HOW COOL IS THAT

Mitch hosted one of his first BBQs of the season. If you haven’t been to a Mitch BBQ, add it to your ladel list… and if Mitch + BBQ didn’t convince you… check out this picture and try telling me you don’t want to go!

When I ate breakfast at one of my favorite diners near my apartment, my favorite waitress FINALLY recognized me. I’ve only gone there just about every weekend for almost two years now. It was a great day.

I read/journaled on my favorite spot on the Esplanade. I watched a crew team load up, row out, come back and go home. Something about that just makes my heart smile.

Had a picnic on the waterfront int the Nort End. The idea was to play bocce ball and picnic, but alas… we did not have bocce balls. We ended up finding a spot in view of Bunker Hill, the Zakim Bridge and the USS Constitution AT GOLDEN TIME. It was a completely perfect evening. I love Boston.

Megan and I laid in bed one night watching Grey’s on my laptop. It felt like college. I love us.

I got a late night text on Patriots Day Eve to go to the Sox game ON Patriots Day. Some people really know the way to this girl’s heart 🙂 I took my twin with me… we seriously have so much fun that I bet we’re illegal in at least 86 countries.

You know you’ve found a friend for life when she will post this picture of you on Facebook and you’re not even mad:

My iPhone finally stopped autocorrecting “baller” to “ballet” — you have no idea how long I have been waiting for this moment.

Took a 4:45a adventure to Battle of Lexington and Concord reenactment on the Lexington Green (where it actually took place). IT WAS AWESOME!!!

We found this kid at the reenactment. He is the background on my phone. Because I love him.

I was introduced to a new (awesome) breakfast spotin the North End – the pancakes are HUUUUUGE!

MARATHON MONDAY – Patriots Day in Boston is truly the greatest thing on this planet. (Mind you this was the same day as the Sox game… the marathon goes right next to the stadium so when we walked out we were already part of the crowd!)

I got a $100 giftcard from one of my partners at work and I’m treating myself to these new running shoes (they make me smile and dance):

I get to play volleyball every Wednesday with my BSSC team – I love volleyball. I love my team… even when Jose is grouchy 😉 (Jose, do you read this??)

Flowers are EVERYWHERE! YAY SPRING!

Dodgeball. When was the last time you played??? I definitely need more of it in my life.

Took an extended weekend vacay in Chicago with SAM AND JAKE! If you don’t know Sam and Jake, the three of us have been best friends since 8th grade and they’re the greatest guys ever. We watched blues bands. Saw the Family Matters house. Locked Jake Jake locked himself in his own bathroom overnight. Best weekend ever. Here’s a little photo diary of us from 2004 – present. Pretty cute, right?!?

So I’ve got to ask… DOES LIFE GET BETTER?!?!?! April 2012 is going down in history as ‘The Month That Was’ – a special thanks to everyone that made it possible 🙂